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- Deployment characterization of a floatable tidal energy converter on a tidal channel, Ria Formosa, PortugalPublication . Pacheco, André; G-Gorbeña, Eduardo; Plomaritis, Haris; Garel, Erwan; Gonçalves, J. M. S.; Bentes, L.; Monteiro, P.; Afonso, Carlos; Oliveira, Frederico; Soares, C.; Zabel, F.; Sequeira, ClaudiaThis paper presents the results of a pilot experiment with an existing tidal energy converter (TEC), Evopod 1 kW floatable prototype, in a real test case scenario (Faro Channel, Ria Formosa, Portugal). A baseline marine geophysical, hydrodynamic and ecological study based on the experience collected on the test site is presented. The collected data was used to validate a hydro-morphodynamic model, allowing the selection of the installation area based on both operational and environmental constraints. Operational results related to the description of power generation capacity, energy capture area and proportion of energy flux are presented and discussed, including the failures occurring during the experimental setup. The data is now available to the scientific community and to TEC industry developers, enhancing the operational knowledge of TEC technology concerning efficiency, environmental effects, and interactions (i.e. device/environment). The results can be used by developers on the licensing process, on overcoming the commercial deployment barriers, on offering extra assurance and confidence to investors, who traditionally have seen environmental concerns as a barrier, and on providing the foundations whereupon similar deployment areas can be considered around the world for marine tidal energy extraction.
- Effects of external nutrient sources and extreme weather events on the nutrient budget of a Southern European coastal lagoonPublication . Malta, Erik-jan; Stigter, Tibor Y.; Pacheco, André; Carvalho Dill, Amélia; Tavares, Diogo; Santos, RuiThe seasonal and annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) budgets of the mesotidal Ria Formosa lagoon, southern Portugal, were estimated to reveal the main inputs and outputs, the seasonal patterns, and how they may influence the ecological functioning of the system. The effects of extreme weather events such as long-lasting strong winds causing upwelling and strong rainfall were assessed. External nutrient inputs were quantified; ocean exchange was assessed in 24-h sampling campaigns, and final calculations were made using a hydrodynamic model of the lagoon. Rain and stream inputs were the main freshwater sources to the lagoon. However, wastewater treatment plant and groundwater discharges dominated nutrient input, together accounting for 98, 96, and 88 % of total C, N, and P input, respectively. Organic matter and nutrients were continuously exported to the ocean. This pattern was reversed following extreme events, such as strong winds in early summer that caused upwelling and after a period of heavy rainfall in late autumn. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that ammonium and organic N and C exchange were positively associated with temperature as opposed to pH and nitrate. These variables reflected mostly the benthic lagoon metabolism, whereas particulate P exchange was correlated to Chl a, indicating that this was more related to phytoplankton dynamics. The increase of stochastic events, as expected in climate change scenarios, may have strong effects on the ecological functioning of coastal lagoons, altering the C and nutrient budgets.
- Fair shares or smart savings? exploring business models, justice and efficiency trade-offs in Portuguese energy communitiesPublication . Scharnigg, Renée; Monteiro, Jânio; Pacheco, André; Santos, JoniEnergy communities are increasingly playing an important role in citizen engagement during energy transitions. However, the functional benefits for participants are heavily reliant on how energy and profits are shared, which are dictated by regulations. While optimizing trade-offs can prove significant in making energy community projects viable, related techno-regulatory innovations on energy-sharing mechanisms still require in-depth analysis. A key unresolved issue is how to balance justice considerations with model attractiveness by aligning members' perceptions of fair redistribution with optimal energy utilization. This study investigates the interplay between sharing and metering mechanisms and their respective advantages and disadvantages, using the Portuguese case study as an example. Four hypothetical scenarios related to the implementation of European directives into Portuguese national law are analysed to quantify trade-offs between self-consumption, self-sufficiency, and participant equity. The findings demonstrate how different energy-sharing and metering mechanisms can influence resource allocation, benefit distribution, and financial sustainability. Each of these scenarios reveals that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The consumption-proportional sharing maximizes selfconsumption and self-sufficiency indexes at the community level but fails to uphold principles of energy justice, as it disproportionately benefits high-consuming members. In contrast, the fixed coefficients sharing ensures a distribution proportional to each member's monetary investment but leads to lower efficiency. These findings underscore the socio-economic implications of techno-regulatory innovations and the need to reconcile equity and efficiency. The study offers guidance to policymakers in designing fair and effective frameworks, reducing the risk of unintentionally obstructing energy community development due to impaired economic viability.